Bracelet extension device



Feb. 5, 1935.

G. KURZ, JR

BRACELET EXTENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 5. 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1935. G. Kunz. JR

BRACELET EXTENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Applicatim January 5,

4 Claims.

My invention relates to an extension device for bracelets which can be slipped on and off in closed condition, and are held tightly on the arm of the wearer by resilient reaction.

It is an object of my invention to improve a bracelet extension device, with a rview to giving the bracelet a better appearance. It has already been suggested to insert resilient means, the .so-called tension members, in straps of materials which do not possess any appreciable stretch, such as leather, metal or the like. 'I'his solution of the problem is not satisfactory because the ten- -sion members show when the bracelet is expanded for slipping it on, and when it is on the arm of the wearer. The tension members are markedly different from the strap and spoil the appearance of the bracelet if they show.

To the end of eliminating the unsightly tension members, I replace them by links attached to the ends of a divided strap, and connect resilient means to the links by which the links are turned about their pivots for pulling the ends of the strap toward each other. Links can easily be made so as to present a better appearance than the aforesaid tension members so that it is not a drawback if they show, and they may even be arranged as a decoration on purpose, as will be described, or they may be concealed on the inner side of the bracelet Where they are a1- most invisible, as will also be described.

I arrange the resilient means as the pivots of the links themselves. Thus, I may provide a coiled spring whose cylindrical or parallel portion is the pivot and which has shanks at its opposite ends for turning the links on the parallel portion so as to fold them down on each other. As the links are attached to the ends of the divided strap in the manner described, the folding tendency of the links results in a pull at the ends of the divided strap which applies the strap to the arm of the wearer under resilient pressure.

In the drawings aixed to this specification and forming part thereof, various kinds of bracelets to which an extension device embodying my invention is adapted are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a watch bracelet with side links attached to the ends of its divided strap, and a. central link to which the side links are pivotally connected, the links being concealed on the inner side of the strap,

Fig. 2 is a plan View the central link spread out,

Fig. 3 is an elevation, and

showing the side links and 193s, serial No. 650,33)

Germany January 15, 1932 Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the pivotal connections for the links, with a coiled spring as the pivot, drawn to a larger scale,

Fig. 5 showsthe three links as illustrated in Fig. 1 but arranged on the outer side of the strap,

Fig. 6 illustrates a system of three linksof substantially equal length,

The bracelet has been shown as a watch bracelet by way of example, but it is understood that my invention may be adapted to any kind of bracelet, with or without a watch holder or the like.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 4, c is a watch holder, and a and b are the two parts of the divided bracelet strap which may be of any suitable material, such as leather, metal or the like, and may be made of a single piece or of pieces joined together, such as a chain or the like. The straps may also be of cloth, wire fabric, wire netting, etc. The parts a, b are preferably connected to the watch holder c at their inner ends by suitable adjustable loops or the like, r and s, by means of which the bracelet is roughly fitted to the wearers arm.

The outer ends of the strap parts a and b are connected to a pair of links e and f at h, and i, respectively, which links will bereferred to as the side links as distinguished from the central link d to whose ends-they are pivotedat g, g. Resilient means are provided as will presently be described, which are operatively connected to the three links and tend to fold the side links e and f down on the central link d and, under the action of this tendency, pull the ends h and i of the strap parts a and b toward each other. On the other hand, the resilient means permit the spreading out of the links illustrated in Fig. 2. In fully spread-out condition, the increment in overall length of the strap is about twice the llength of the central link d. The connection of the side links e and f to the strap parts a and b is effected by suitable eyes at h and i, or in any other desired manner.

When the two strap parts a and b are pulled in outward direction, the two side links e, ,f are rocked about their pivots g, g on the central link d in the directions A and B, Fig. l, and iinally the system of links will be fully spread out as shown in Fig. 2. This widens the bracelet and facilitates the slipping on and off. According to my invention, the resilient means are the pivots of the links themselves, as will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Each pivot g is the parallel or cylindrical portion of a coiled spring whose shanks project from its ends in opposite directions and are inserted in sleeves or -pockets 1c on the respective links. Figs. 3 and 4 show the connection of the side link e at the left to the central link d and it will appear that as each shank of the spring g is con-A nected to another link and the shanks extend in opppsite directions, they tend to fold the side links e, f down on the central link d, as-shown in Fig. 1, closing the bracelet on the wearers arm against the arrows A and B.

While in the example illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 the links were on the inner side of the strap, Fig. 5 shows the opposite arrangement where the central link d is permanently exposed and is preferably decorated in conformity with the pattern-if any-on the strap parts a and b. If the parts a and h are of leather, for instance, the central link d may be decorated with a leather lining (not shown) of the same colour as'the leather of the strap parts. Otherwise, the arrangement is the same as in Figs. 1 to 4, with the side links e and f pivoted to the central link at g, g by the spring pivots described.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the three links e, f and m are of equal, or substantially equal, length, m being the central link, and are pivotally connected at g by the springs which have been described.' It will appear that the side,links e, f fold down on the central link as described but that the increment in length in spread-out condition of the links is n`ot as large as with the long central link d in Figs. 1 to 4. The side links e, f are attached to the parts a and b at i and h, re-

spectively, as described.

It will appear that the links are invsiblein the bracelets which have been shown, with the exception of the bracelet in Fig. 5; and that they do not increase the thickness of the strap to any appreciable extent, particularly if only two thicknesses of links are superimposed, as in the examples illustrated in Figs. l to 4 and 5.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:-

l. A bracelet extension device comprising, a divided strap, pivotally connected links attached to the ends of said strap, and coiled springs arranged as the pivots by which said links are connected, and operative`y connected to said links for pulling Vtoward each other the ends of said strap.

2.A bracelet extension device comprising, a divided strap. pivotally connected links attached to the ends of said strap and coiled springs arranged as the pivots of said links, with a shank extending from one end of each spring and connected to one of the links which are pivotally connected by the spring, and a shank extending from the other end of the spring and connected to the other link; for pulling toward each other the ends of said strap.

3. A bracelet extension device comprising, a divided strap, pivotally connected links attached to the ends of said strap, and coiled springs arranged as the pivots of said links, with a shank extending from one end of each spring and connected to one of the links which are pivotally connected by the spring, and a shank extending from the other end of -the spring and connected to the other link, and sleeves on said links for the reception of said Shanks; for pulling toward each other the ends of said strap.

4. A bracelet extension device comprising, a divided strap, a pair of side links attached to the ends of said strap at their outer ends, a central link whose length is substantially equal to the added lengths of said side links, and to which the inner .ends of said side links are pivotally connected, and coiled springs arranged as the pivots by which said side and central links are connected; for folding said side links down on said central link.

GEORG KURZ, JUNIOR. 

